Radio preset system for phone numbers

Abstract

A method of initiating a wireless phone call from a mobile vehicle. The method includes storing at least one phone number in a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system includes a radio in communication with a telematics unit. The method further includes linking the stored phone number to a radio button, receiving a radio button input, while in a communication mode and placing the call from the telematics unit to the phone number linked to the radio button associated with the radio button input.

1 . A method of initiating a wireless phone call from a mobile vehicle, the method comprising: 
 storing at least one phone number in a vehicle communication system, the vehicle communication system including a radio in communication with a telematics unit;    linking the stored phone number to a radio button;    receiving a radio button input, while in a communication mode; and    placing the call from the telematics unit to the phone number linked to the radio button associated with the radio button input.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication mode comprises a speech recognition mode, and wherein a nametag including an audio file of an appellation is associated with the stored phone number; and 
 further comprising:    linking the nametag to the stored phone number;    storing the nametag in the vehicle communication system;    linking the stored nametag to the radio button linked to the stored phone number;    announcing the appellation in response to the radio button input; and    monitoring for a confirmation from a user prior to placing the call.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 receiving a delete command from the user;    deleting the stored phone number and the associated stored nametag from the vehicle communication system responsive to the delete command; and    unlinking the radio button associated with the deleted phone number.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the deleting comprises deleting all stored phone numbers and associated nametags.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the storing comprises: 
 activating an in-vehicle speech recognition unit;    receiving a store command, a phone number and an appellation correlated to the phone number from the user; and    determining availability of an unlinked radio button.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 comparing the received phone number with previously stored phone numbers; and    notifying the user if the comparison generates a match.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the linking the stored phone number to a radio button comprises: 
 determining user-selection of radio preset, based on a determination of availability of an unlinked radio button; and    announcing the phone number, the linked appellation and a linked numerically identified radio button, based on a determination of user-selection of radio preset.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the linking the stored phone number to a radio button comprises linking to an unlinked radio button having a lowest radio button number.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radio button input is sent in response to a user activating a radio button.  
     
     
         10 . A radio preset system for initiating a phone call, the system comprising: 
 means for storing at least one phone number in a vehicle communication system;    means for linking the stored phone number to a radio button;    means for receiving a radio button input, while in a communication mode; and    means for placing the call from the telematics unit to the phone number linked to the radio button associated with the radio button input.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system further comprises: 
 means for linking a nametag including an appellation to the stored phone number;    means for storing the nametag in the vehicle communication system;    means for linking the stored nametag to the radio button linked to the stored phone number;    means for announcing the appellation in response to the radio button input; and    means for monitoring for a confirmation from a user prior to placing the call.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises: 
 means for receiving a delete command from the user;    means for deleting the stored phone number and the stored nametag from the vehicle communication system responsive to the delete command; and    means for unlinking the radio button associated with the deleted phone number.    
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising: 
 computer readable code for storing at least one phone number in a vehicle communication system, the vehicle communication system including a radio in communication with a telematics unit;    computer readable code for linking the stored phone number to a radio button;    computer readable code for receiving a radio button input, while in a communication mode; and    computer readable code for placing the call from the telematics unit to the phone number linked to the radio button associated with the radio button input.    
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the communication mode comprises a speech recognition mode, and wherein a nametag, including an audio file of an appellation, is associated with the stored phone number.  
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the medium further comprises: 
 computer readable code for linking the nametag to the stored phone number;    computer readable code for storing the nametag in the vehicle communication system;    computer readable code for linking the stored nametag to the radio button linked to the stored phone number;    computer readable code for announcing the appellation in response to the radio button input; and    computer readable code for monitoring for a confirmation from a user prior to placing the call.    
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the medium further comprises: 
 computer readable code for receiving a delete command from the user;    computer readable code for deleting the stored phone number and the associated stored nametag from the vehicle communication system; and    computer readable code for unlinking the radio button associated with the deleted phone number.    
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer readable code for storing comprises: 
 computer readable code for activating an in-vehicle speech recognition unit;    computer readable code for receiving a store command, the phone number and the appellation correlated to the phone number from the user; and    computer readable code for determining availability of an unlinked radio button.    
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein the medium further comprises: 
 computer readable code for comparing the received phone number with previously stored phone numbers; and    computer readable code for notifying the user if the comparison generates a match.    
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein the computer readable code for linking the stored phone number to a radio button comprises: 
 computer readable code for determining user-selection of radio preset, based on a determination of availability of an unlinked radio button; and    computer readable code for announcing the phone number, the linked appellation and a linked numerically identified radio button, based on a determination of user-selection of radio preset.    
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable code for linking the stored phone number to a radio button comprises computer readable code for linking to an unlinked radio button having a lowest radio button number.